Original:
Then he addressed each dear companion
one final time, those fighters in their helmets,
resolute and high-born: "I would rather not
use a weapon if I knew another way
to grapple with the dragon and make good my boast
as I did against Grendel in days gone by.
But I shall be meeting molten venom
in the fire he breathes, so I go forth
in mail-shirt and shield. i won't shift a foot
when I meet the cave-guard: what occurs on the wall
between the two of us will turn out as fate,
overseer of men, decides. I am resolved.
I scorn further words against this sky-borne foe.
"Men at arms, remain here on the barrow,
safe in your armour, to see which one of us
is better in the end at bearing wounds
in a deadly fray. This fight is not yours,
nor is it up to any man except me
to measure his strength against the monster
or to prove his worth. I shall win the gold
by my courage, or else mortal combat,
doom of battle, will bear you lord away."
Then he drew himself up beside the shield.
The fabled warrior in his warshirt and helmet
trusted in his own strength entirely
and went under the crag. No coward path.
Translated:
At that point, he addressed each of the partners
and for the last time, the fighters in their helmets
stated, "I would not want to
use a weapon if I had known another way
to fight the dragon and make good of myself
like Grendel did long ago.
However, I should be meeting molten venom
in the fire, so I go through
in mail-shirt and shield. I will not move my foot
when I meet the cave-guard and I will not be afraid: what occurs on the wall
between the two of us will be fateful,
overseer of men decides. I am resolved.
I scorn further words against this enemy.
"Men of the armies remain here in the barrow,
safe and sound to see which one of us
is better at the end.
This fight is not yours, nor is it made to decide
whether one is stronger against the monster
or to prove one's worth. I shall win the gold
with my own courage, or else mortal combat,
doom of battle will bear your lord away."
Then he drew himself up beside the shield.
The fabled warrior in his warshirt and his helmet
with a trust in himself and
went under the cliff. He was courageous.
Lines2516-2541
Original:
Then he addressed each dear companion
one final time, those fighters in their helmets,
resolute and high-born: "I would rather not
use a weapon if I knew another way
to grapple with the dragon and make good my boast
as I did against Grendel in days gone by.
But I shall be meeting molten venom
in the fire he breathes, so I go forth
in mail-shirt and shield. i won't shift a foot
when I meet the cave-guard: what occurs on the wall
between the two of us will turn out as fate,
overseer of men, decides. I am resolved.
I scorn further words against this sky-borne foe.
"Men at arms, remain here on the barrow,
safe in your armour, to see which one of us
is better in the end at bearing wounds
in a deadly fray. This fight is not yours,
nor is it up to any man except me
to measure his strength against the monster
or to prove his worth. I shall win the gold
by my courage, or else mortal combat,
doom of battle, will bear you lord away."
Then he drew himself up beside the shield.
The fabled warrior in his warshirt and helmet
trusted in his own strength entirely
and went under the crag. No coward path.
Translated:
At that point, he addressed each of the partners
and for the last time, the fighters in their helmets
stated, "I would not want to
use a weapon if I had known another way
to fight the dragon and make good of myself
like Grendel did long ago.
However, I should be meeting molten venom
in the fire, so I go through
in mail-shirt and shield. I will not move my foot
when I meet the cave-guard and I will not be afraid: what occurs on the wall
between the two of us will be fateful,
overseer of men decides. I am resolved.
I scorn further words against this enemy.
"Men of the armies remain here in the barrow,
safe and sound to see which one of us
is better at the end.
This fight is not yours, nor is it made to decide
whether one is stronger against the monster
or to prove one's worth. I shall win the gold
with my own courage, or else mortal combat,
doom of battle will bear your lord away."
Then he drew himself up beside the shield.
The fabled warrior in his warshirt and his helmet
with a trust in himself and
went under the cliff. He was courageous.